Written by Patrick Hart

 

Our president, Rich Schoeneman, presided over this week’s meeting, and we opened with a pledge and a prayer.

 

Tony Collins won the 50/50 raffle at our winter fundraiser.

 

Steve Risley is hoping to soon get the last silent auction items out of his house.

 

Rich Babjak thanked everyone for the sympathy he received on the death of his daughter.  He mentioned that she had named Misericordia as the beneficiary in her life insurance policy.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

We have a slew of Rotary anniversaries this month with Rich Schoeneman clocking in for 33 years, with Jeff Harger coming in for a close second at 31 years, followed by Diana Servos with 9 years, and John Blair bringing up the rear at 7 years.

 

President Schoeneman asked us all to remember International Women’s Day which occurred earlier in the week.

 

March 30 is the fifth Wednesday of the month.  In lieu of a morning meeting, Rick Mittelman is working on putting together an evening social event.

 

There will be a club board meeting next Tuesday March 15 at 5:00 a.m. on Zoom.

 

Bob Zamor has recently updated the Fun & Frolics assignments on our website.  Be sure to check to see if your name is on the list.

 

Tony Collins received a check for $6,440.00 after winning the 50/50 raffle at our winter fundraiser.

 

The Rotary Minute mentioned that the Rotary Foundation has both district designated funds and world funds.

 

Tom Miller chaired Fun & Frolics this week with a miscellaneous trivia quiz where we learned such interesting information as it takes 252 to 411 licks to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop. Maybe that explains why when I was a kid I always lost my patience and bit through the hard candy to get to the tootsie roll.

 

Our speaker this week was Elizabeth Thielen, Senior Director at Nicasa Behavioral Health Services.  Elizabeth works with people addicted to problem gambling, which is a program Nicasa  has been running for 20 years. The technical name for problem gambling is Gambling Disorder. It affects an estimated two percent of Americans, and it is the only nonsubstance related addiction recognized by the American Psychiatric Association.

 

Gambling disorder can wreak havoc in people’s lives.  It leads to high rates of bankruptcy and divorce, and over half of those addicted end up committing crimes to finance the habit.  It has also become worse in recent decades with easy access now available to legal gambling, and advertising for gambling filling the media.  You can even gamble on your phone anytime you want to.

 

Elizabeth is not against gambling, but it has to be kept under control.  For example studies have shown that because of the social benefits seniors who gamble are healthier than average seniors.  However, seniors also make up one of the groups that are most prone to gambling disorder.  Other high risk groups rates for gambling disorders include sports figures, the military, and young people.

 

Nicasa offers counseling for gambling disorder.  The counseling is generally free, although they accept fees from people who want to pay.  Gambling disorder is not limited to the poor.  There are some very high income people who suffer from this problem, who do not want to accept the services for free. The counseling is flexible.  Some people need to stop gambling, where others can learn to cut back to the point where it is no longer a problem.  They also maintain a hot line 1-800 gambler where people with problems can call for help. 

 

Elizabeth advises everyone to talk more about gambling problems, and to encourage people who need it to seek help. She also discourages people from giving away lottery tickets as gifts.

 

 

This week we had $34.00 in the sure prize, and $213.00 in the progressive pot with 48 cards left.  Rich Babjak took the weekly winnings home while John Blair left the big pot on the table after pulling the ten of clubs.

 

Greeter and Prayer:  Carol August

 

Fun and Frolics:  Elliot Pinsel

 

QUOTE FOR THE DAY:

“Those who  can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”  Voltaire